Sakis Gouzonis – Questions and Answers
Here you can read more than 150 questions and answers with Sakis Gouzonis.
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Questions and Answers
..:: Personal Questions and Answers ::..
Who is the greatest love of your life?
My father, my mother and my two brothers.
What three things could you not live without?
My music workstation, my PC and my portable MP3 player.
What is your favorite color?
Blue.
Tell us a little about the place where you were born. Where in Greece is it located?
I was born in Thessaloniki, also known as Thessalonica or Salonica. The city is Greece's second major economic, political, commercial, and industrial center. It is also a major transportation hub for the rest of southeastern Europe. The city was founded around 315 B.C. by the King Cassander of Macedon. He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great. The White Tower of Thessaloniki is widely regarded as the symbol of the city.
If your life flashed before your eyes, what would the highlights be?
Playing and writing music, falling in love, walking many miles listening to music…
What would your super power be?
To heal incurable diseases.
What is your favorite means of transportation?
Train. Traveling by train is both magical and enjoyable.
What is your favorite animated movie of all time?
There are quite a few animated movies that have touched my heart so far. One of them is Peter Pan.
What was your favorite game as a kid?
Hide and seek.
Who was your favorite teacher growing up and why?
Vasiliki Vrouvliani. She was a wonderful teacher that made learning fun and exciting. Many of her students, including myself, cried a lot on the day of her retirement. I will always remember her as one of the most influential teachers of my life.
Describe Senior High School in one sentence.
Senior High School was definitely one of the best periods of my life.
What was your favorite subject in Senior High School?
The arts (music, painting, theater).
What is your favorite season?
Spring!
When is your birthday?
My birthday is on 16 March.
Do you believe in true love?
Yes, I do.
Love or money?
Love. Where there is love, nothing is missing.
Would you ever camp out on a beach, under the stars?
Yes, that sounds beautiful.
If someone was to approach you for a date, what would be your dream night out?
That would involve a meal somewhere not too casual but not overly fancy.
Do you shower daily?
Yes, I shower at least once a day. If I do not, I feel gross.
Do you swear?
No, I do not.
Have you ever been drunk?
Never.
Have you ever been psychologically or physically dependent upon any drug or alcohol?
No, I have not.
Do you care what others think about you?
Not really. I only care what the people that I love think about me.
What is the best piece of advice someone has ever given you and did you take notice?
"Believe in your dreams and they may come true; believe in yourself and they will come true." Words to live by!
What is the most important lesson life has taught you so far?
To truly live is to follow your heart, to realize that you can achieve your dreams and be who you were meant to be.
What is the most valuable lesson that you learned from your parents growing up that you still apply today?
"Wash your hands before dinner!"
What is one of your favorite inspirational quotations?
"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people."
What is your favorite motto in life?
Live the life you want to live, not the life others want you to live.
Tell us one thing you do not like to do.
To give up.
To whom would you most like to say sorry and why?
My wonderful grandmothers, because I did not spend enough time with them when they were alive.
What is the closest you have come to death?
A car accident when I was eight years old, and another one when I was nine.
Would you prefer to die young surrounded by loved ones or die old and alone?
Actually, I am going to live forever; and I will not be alone!
Do you smoke?
No, I do not.
Have you got any tattoos?
No, I have not.
What is your favorite day of the week?
Thursday.
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
I am right-handed.
What is in your refrigerator right now?
Natural mineral water, orange juice, chocolate, marmalade, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Name 3 drinks you regularly drink.
Water, orange juice and hot chocolate.
Describe your perfect pizza.
My perfect pizza would have tomato sauce, a lot of cheese and Greek olives. Very yummy!
Can you cook?
Yes, I can.
Name three of your favorite vegetables.
Cabbage, lettuce and potato!
Strawberry or watermelon?
Can I have them both?
What is your favorite ice-cream flavor?
I like vanilla.
Do you wear socks to sleep?
No, I do not.
Does it bother you when someone lies to you?
Doesn't it bother everyone?
Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Well, it depends on what the appointment is for.
If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be?
I am very comfortable with the person I have learned to deal with all of my life. So I will stick to being myself.
Would you take 30,000 euros or a brand new car?
Definitely the money.
Do you have any birthmarks?
I have one on the back of my right leg.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a child, I used to collect model aircraft. I wanted to be a pilot.
What is your favorite thing to do with your friends?
Laugh, and go on adventures.
Have you ever made a mistake?
We are all humans, and humans make mistakes. Mistakes are learning tools. We make mistakes so that we know what is the right thing to do. Our mistakes are actually building blocks on the road to perfection.
Do you think more about the past, present or future?
I think equally about the past and the future, because without understanding the past, the future stands a good chance of holding the same mistakes.
What do you do when you are not busy making electronic music?
I love walking in the streets, surfing the Internet, chatting with my friends, etc.
How easily do you trust people?
I have to get to know someone very well before I can trust them.
Have you ever loved someone so much that it made you cry?
Yes, I have.
Do you hate anyone?
I do not believe in hate. You can feel burdened for life if you vow to hate and never take it back.
Have you ever ridden a horse?
Yes, and I would like to do it again. I love horses; they are very beautiful creatures.
What is your favorite flower?
Rose.
Do you recycle?
Yes, I do.
Would you rather love one person or have many short relationships?
I would rather love one person.
Do you go more by looks or personality?
I could never date someone who is beautiful outside, but ugly inside.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
I would give some of my money to my parents, brothers and close friends. I would also give away some of my money to charity. People say money cannot buy happiness, but spending money on others makes me happy. And of course, I would buy a new music workstation. Any leftover funds would be put into a savings account until I determine a long-term investment plan.
What does your perfect day look like?
My perfect day is every day. Composing, performing and listening to music, being with my family and friends, feeling the sun on my face is a perfect day for me.
What is your earliest memory?
Standing at the top of a stairway while holding my father's right hand and my mother's left hand.
What is your favorite word?
My favorite word is "music."
Have you ever said "I love you" and not meant it?
When I say "I love you" to someone, I mean it.
How do you relax?
I relax by listening to music or watching movies.
What is one of the most important lessons life has taught you?
One of the most important lessons life has taught me is how incredibly valuable and important time is. We need to respect time and be very careful about how we spend it, because we can never stop time or move backwards in time. Our time is now, not tomorrow. Now is the time to follow our dreams and give our gifts back to the world.
What is your favorite dessert?
My favorite dessert is chocolate.
Do you like honey?
Yes, I do. Actually, I eat honey for breakfast several days a week. Honey tastes great and it is one of the most natural home remedies to treat a wide range of ailments and complaints. Honey is a really powerful immune system booster.
What do you do when you are stressed?
I just take a break and listen to some relaxing music. Listening to soothing music can be a fantastic way to de-stress.
Have you ever walked into a window because it was just that clean?
Yes, I have. Please tell me I am not the only one.
When shopping at the supermarket, do you return your cart?
Yes, I do. I always return my cart back to the cart holders in the parking lot.
If abandoned alone in the wilderness, who would you want with you?
MacGyver. I am sure he would know or could figure out how to survive.
What languages do you speak?
Greek and English.
If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
If happiness was the national currency, the job that would make me rich would be the one I was born to do. Being a music composer is what makes me really happy.
Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
I would rather have more work that I actually enjoy doing.
If you had to move to a country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
There are many beautiful countries around the world. One of them is Sweden. Some of the advantages of living in Sweden include low crime rate, high level of education, and good social safety net. In addition, Sweden is an English-friendly country, so I would not have to wait until I learned Swedish to move there. Of course, one of the downsides is the high cost of living.
Do you trust your intuition?
Yes, I do. I do not need to explain or justify my feelings to everyone. I just trust my own inner guidance; it often knows best.
Have you ever seen a tornado?
Yes, I have. In fact, I was only a few meters away when the tornado happened. Fortunately, the tornado lasted just a few seconds.
How many hats do you have in your house?
I have more than ten hats in my house.
What is your best physical feature?
My smile is my best physical feature.
Do you ever smile for no reason?
I smile all the time.
What makes you smile?
I smile when I complete a new music track or a new music album, when I see the sunrise or the sunset, when I look at pictures from my childhood, when I make a new friend, and when I eat chocolate.
Who would play you in a movie?
Konstantinos Aspiotis.
How many people call you by your birth name?
Very few people call me by my birth name. Most people call me Sakis.
What is your favorite website?
My favorite website is https://www.sakisgouzonis.com.
What are your future plans?
I plan on writing as much new music as possible. I will also continue learning more about sound engineering, so I can stay competitive in the field.
..:: Musical Questions and Answers ::..
Why do you make music? What is your primary goal?
I make music because music drives me more than food, sleep and sex. I make music because it was one of my earliest comforts. I make music because I like to spread happiness to people of all ages and cultures. I make music because music is my breath. I make music because I am a musician. Music lifts the spirit up. My goal is to lift people's spirit up. But also just to enjoy the music, and have fellowship and a good time!
How often do you practice and how long?
Two or three times a week, depending on whether I have a live performance that week or not. A typical practice normally lasts for about two hours.
What is your favorite city to perform in?
It does not matter in which city I am. Every city has its own charm and beauty, and every performance is unique. It is not the city, but the type of the venue and the audience that makes a performance memorable.
How do you feel at the end of a live show?
At the end of a live show there is definitely an abundance of strong emotions and positive thoughts racing around inside of me. The applause from my audience fills me with tremendous energy and electric excitement. I have also a strong sense of accomplishment. I have spent countless hours rehearsing, and I have finally delivered my performance.
What is your advice on touring?
First of all, you must have great music. Booking gigs without having great music is going to be really tough. Book your gigs many months in advance. Do not take too many gigs on your first tour. Play three or four nights per week and leave a few days off. And always remember that each tour builds on the next. Persevere, and do not get discouraged. Respect your listeners, and play great shows. The loyalty of your listeners will keep you coming back for years to come.
How long did it take you to attract so many followers on the Internet?
I began promoting my music on the Internet on 17 October 2007.
What is the best track you have ever created?
All of my tracks are special to me in their own way.
List five of your tracks that you would listen to on a road trip.
In Unity There Is True Strength
What is your favorite European music festival?
A Swedish music festival called Melodifestivalen. I would also like to participate in it.
Do you like the Eurovision Song Contest?
Yes, I do. Actually, it is one of my dreams to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest.
How did you discover electronic music? What was your first exposure?
I think my first exposure to electronic music was a compilation album produced in 1995. It contained tracks by Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis Papathanasiou, and other talented electronic composers. I immediately fell in love with the electronic melodies, chords and beats.
Do you teach electronic music?
Yes, I do. I love sharing what I know with others. I also love exploring music with others. Finally, I love the feeling of making a difference in someone else's life.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming artists?
I would tell them to stay true to themselves and make the music they want to make.
What advice would you give to someone getting started using social media to promote his / her music?
One of the most common mistakes first-timers make is trying too much at once. Start with one social networking site you feel most comfortable with, and then expand slowly. And work hard. It takes years of hard work to get somewhere.
What is the best advice you have been given about showbiz?
The line to the place you want to get to is never straight. It strays among the different avenues. Imagine an eight-lane highway eventually going to the same tunnel. Eventually, you get to that place you want to get to, but getting there requires a lot of lane changes.
Have you ever written music under the influence of any substances?
No, I have not. I do not need substances to write music. And my music gives me more joy than any substance can ever give me.
What do you find most satisfying when creating music?
Creating music is so fulfilling. It makes me feel free, proud and grateful.
There is a lot of doom and gloom about the music industry today. Is there a bright spot?
Yes, there is. The fact that musicians can directly promote themselves without the need of a middleman or gatekeeper.
What is your prognosis for the music industry, terminal decline or steady recovery?
There is no denying that the music industry has changed beyond recognition during the last years. Some parts of the music industry are in decline clearly (e.g., album / track sales), and other parts are filled with potential (e.g., live shows). Long gone are the days of the local record shop, and many of the bigger music stores are on their way out too. With the decline in revenues from recordings, the importance of touring and live shows has increased significantly.
What are a few key survival tips for musicians?
Make your official website the center of your online universe, and maintain at least one e-mailing list.
What do you like most about being an independent artist?
What I like most about being an independent artist is that I have total control over my music career. I decide when, where and how often I will play or record new music. I own my music completely, not a record label.
What are the biggest challenges that new music producers face?
Standing out and sounding original. Nowadays, there is so much of everything out there that it is hard to have your own unique sound. Another challenge is to know when the right time is to release your music. I think a lot of music producers look back and wish they had waited a little longer before releasing their first album due to the lower standard of their music.
Would you be interested in composing video game music?
Absolutely! Video game music is all about feel. It is the key to immersing players even further.
Would you like to write music for a movie or a documentary?
Yes, I would like to write music for a movie or a documentary. I have always been interested in doing that, so if you know a director or a movie producer, send me an e-mail.
If you wanted to make your own genre name, what would it be?
Tingling music.
Describe your first musical instrument.
My first musical instrument was the melodica. The melodica is a free-reed instrument. It has a keyboard on top, which is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. My first melodica was two octaves long.
How do you feel when you complete a music track?
I feel very happy and very satisfied. The happiness and satisfaction I feel when I complete a music track is really huge and cannot be reflected fully in written words.
What is the best thing about being a musician?
The freedom to be as much expressive and creative as I want. I also enjoy the smiles on my followers' faces each time I release a new album; being able to inspire people and change their lives for the better is a really beautiful gift.
Name one music track of yours that stimulates your senses, elevates you, and gets you in a positive mood.
If you were running an ice cream van, what would it play?
Can music bring people together?
As a universal language, music can bring people together, enhance the mutual understanding between different countries, and be a source of energizing inspiration and hope. The power of music to connect on a local, national and international level is tremendous. The common love for music can transcend boundaries and common differences. I believe in the unifying power of music.
Does music have the power to heal?
I believe that music can help people with many different physical and emotional disorders or diseases. Music brings beauty, harmony and pleasure to life. Music gives us the opportunity to connect with the innermost part of our being. On a scientific level, studies show that patients who listen to music are less anxious and recover more quickly.
Where did you study music?
I did not study music. I am a self-taught musician.
What is your favorite time of day to write music?
I usually write music either early in the morning or late at night.
Do you listen to music every day?
Yes, I do.
Is anyone else in your family a musician?
I am the only one.
..:: General Questions and Answers ::..
What is life to you?
Life is a gift. This gift calls us to appreciate the inestimable value of what we have been given, and to take responsibility for it.
What do you think about abortions?
Human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception. From the very first moment of his or her existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person, among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Bad behavior in a social situation.
Is it better to give or to receive?
To give. If you give, you will receive.
Everything happens for a reason, right?
Right. Things fall out of place, so that better things can fall into place.
What do you think about sweat?
It naturally cools the body down.
What is wrong with the world?
There is too much fear and not enough love.
Do you believe that world peace is possible?
All things are possible.
Do you think that humanity has a future beyond Earth?
For the time being, I think there is nowhere else in our solar system that is as comfortable as our own planet. We must address our problems here. However, I believe that by the next century, there will be some people living on other planets, such as Mars. Within a few centuries, I believe they will have become a new species.
What are some qualities you value most in a friendship?
Trust, respect and honesty. A friendship without trust is like having a phone with no service. And what do you do with a phone with no service? You just play games. I also value respect. Without respect, friends cannot have a good time if one member of the group feels disrespected or unworthy of something. Finally, I value honesty, because you cannot have true friends that are not truthful to you. At times, the truth can hurt, but in the end it is all for the best. Real friends trust, respect, and are honest with each other.
Would you like to share with us a short inspirational story?
An old man was talking to a young boy and said, "I feel like there are two wolves fighting in my heart. One is kind, and loving, and caring. The other is mean, and cruel, and angry." The boy asked, "But, grandfather, which wolf will win the fight?" The grandfather just smiled and said, "The one that I feed."
Are you a sports fan at all? What is your opinion on sports and the insane fandom that goes with them?
I love football and basketball; and the Olympic Games, which are definitely one of the most beautiful things that happen on our planet. Sports themselves are good and magnificent. What I do not like is the money surrounding sports, and the way people ignore other important areas of their lives.
What have you discovered today that you would like to share?
I just read that when we look into the night sky, we are actually looking back in time. It takes a defined amount of time (light years) for the light of stars in space to reach our eyes. So, the light we are looking at in tonight's sky started its journey to our eyes a very long time ago. In effect, we are not seeing the stars as they currently are, but as they were at the time the light started its journey. The past is visible above us!
What are the pros and cons of colonizing other planets? How could this help or hurt the human race?
On the pros side, it would bring a tremendous improvement to all forms of technology. It would provide inspiration for scientists, astronauts, etc. We would learn more things about the development of our planet and solar system. We would have a better understanding of our place in the universe. On the cons side, it would be very expensive and extremely dangerous. Also, there would most probably be a conflict in how the colony is run.
Do you believe in the existence of aliens?
Yes, I do. The fact that there are other intelligent beings out there is highly likely. I cannot imagine what they look like or how their societies are formed, but I do believe that there must be other planets with intelligent beings. If we assume that one of those extraterrestrial civilizations are some hundreds or thousands years ahead of us in technology and science, then maybe they have already visited us.
What does love feel like?
Love feels like a warm, cozy blanket wrapped tight around me on a cold winter's day. Love feels like a cool breeze on a hot summer's day.
What is your opinion on racism?
Unfortunately, even today we can see racist elements in various parts of the world growing. We must resist and combat racism. We must not allow racism to develop and grow, crushing human dignity and destroying social cohesion. Racism must be eradicated from everywhere in the world. All people must have equal rights.
Have you ever been bullied at school?
Never. Bullying should stop at school. I think all students should report bullying incidents, whether they are a victim or a witness, and teachers should intervene more to stop bullies. However, it is also important for teachers to look into a home situation and find out more about why the bullying takes place; a child or a teenager that acts as a bully may be in a home situation that is in crisis.
Is the glass half-empty or half-full?
The glass is half-full.
Who is the richest person in the world?
The richest person in the world is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.
What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
Being alive is breathing, having your heart beat. But truly living is actually enjoying your life. Truly living is having full mental faculties and being physically able to get around. It is the ability to laugh and genuinely smile. Truly living is working hard and having a good time doing it. Truly living is going for every great opportunity you can without knowing where it is going to take you.
What is the secret to getting ahead?
The secret to getting ahead is to focus all of your energy not on fighting yesterday, but on building something new today.
What is one of the best times for figuring out who you are and what you truly want?
Right after a chapter of your life comes to an end. It is very important to acknowledge and accept that every chapter in life has to come to an end sometime. It is very important to walk away and carry onward sensibly when something has reached its conclusion.
Is inner peace possible?
Yes, it is. Inner peace begins the moment you choose to be mindful by not allowing other people or events to dominate your emotions.
What do you think about online dating?
Online dating is a way of meeting new people you probably would not have met otherwise. You may even find the love of your life.
What is your opinion on plastic surgery?
Personally, I would not have an operation except in the case of a heavy accident or health problem. However, I have no problem with others doing it for non-medical reasons.
Do you believe in magic?
There is no such thing as magic. Magic is just a word for things we do not understand totally. For example, if you brought a computer to a prehistoric society, they would have no technological foundation to understand it. Effectively, it would be magic. Similarly, in the future, we will have technology that would appear to us today to be magic. Science is capable of performing things which appear to be miracles, if we do not understand how they work.
If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
Respect everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, social status, beliefs or anything else.
If there was one message you wanted to convey to humankind through your music, what would that message be?
Let us love and accept one another just as we are.
If you had to describe humanity in 3 words, what would those words be?
Beautiful. Creative. Intelligent.
Updated 27 August 2023